Method of forming a border on the edges of fabrics



(No Model.)

J. M. MERROW.

METHOD OF FORMING A BORDER ON THE BDGES 0P FABRICS. No. 413,077. Patented Oct. 15 1889.

q vitvwooea NlTE STATES arena Prion,

JOSEPH M. MERROV, OF MERRO\V, CONNECTICUT.

METHOD 6F FORIVHNG A BORDER ON THE EDGES OF FABRICS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 413,077, dated October 15, 1889.

Application filed April 20, 1889. Serial No, 307,939- (No specimens.)

To aZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that l, JOSEPH M. MERROW, of Morrow, in the county of Tolland and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in the Art of Forming Finish on Fabrics; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and to the figures and letters of reference marked thereon.

My present invention relates to and constitutes an improvement in or upon the method of forming a finish or border for fabrics claimed in my application, Serial No. 260,573, filed January 7, 1888; and my said improve mentconsists in the mode or method of forming a finish by carrying the thread through thefabric a number of times at substantially the same place, and drawing loops therefrom from opposite sides of the fabric to or beyond the edge of the latter and around an interposed finger forming a support for the loops, and interloopin g or otherwise connecting the outer ends of the loops, and subsequently carrying the thread through the fabric at another point, drawing loops therefrom, and connecting said loops to the preceding cluster of connected loops to spread the cluster, all as hereinafter more fully described and specifically claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figures 1, 2, and 3 are plan views illustrating the finish in various progressive stages of development.

Similar letters of reference in the several figures indicate the same parts.

Any convenient instrumentalities may be employed for carrying the thread through the fabric and drawing and interlooping orconnecting the loops beyond the edge of the fabric; and in the drawings I have, for convenience of description and illustration, shown in section an eye pointed needle A, serving as a thread-carrier, and a latched crochethook B, for drawing and connecting the loops. The base to which the finish or border is applied, hereinafter designated as the fabric, may be composed of any suitable material, the edge of which is either unfinished, bound, overseamed, crocheted, or otherwise menforced or ornamented preliminary to the ap* plication of the finish; or two or more pieces of such fabric may be arranged together.

In the drawings, A designates the fabric; a, the thread; a a a finished clusters formed from thread a, and b b b &c., the several foci of the clusters or the points at which the thread was passed through the fabric in forming said clusters.

As represented in the drawings, Fig. 1, the clusters at a have been finished and the cluster a has been completed in so far as the drawing and interlooping of the loops is concerned, one of the last loops 0 being on the crochet-hook B and the thread held in the needle above the fabric.

In forming the cluster 60 the thread is carried through the fabric at the point I) and a loop is drawn to or beyond the edge by the crochet-hook, after which the latter is advanced to grasp the thread on the opposite side of the fabric and draw it to the edge, the loops being enchained, interlooped, or otherwise suitably connected in any well-known manner beyond the edge of the fabric, as by drawing each loop from one side through the two preceding loops, the one from the opposite and the other from the same side. While these operations are being performed the fabric is held stationary, and the several 7 loops forming the cluster are bunched or crowded together more or less, as represented in Fig. 1. As soon as the requisite number of stitches or connected loops have thus been formed, and while the last loop is held upon the hook, the thread is carried through the fabric at another point if and a loop drawn therefrom and interlooped or otherwise connected to the last loop or loops of the preceding cluster, whereby the latter is drawn or expanded into a scalloped or shell-like form, as represented in the drawings.

The method as thus far described is the same in all essential particulars as that claimed in my prior application of January 7 1888; and my present improvement consists in supporting the loops of each cluster as formed and connected beyond the edge of the fabric during the formation of subsequent loops and. the spreading of the cluster. To

accomplish this operation it is only necessary to arrange a support S, hereinafter termed a finger; adjacent the edge of the fabric, and draw the loops and form the clusters around this finger, so that as the thread is carried through the fabric and drawn in loops beyond the edge thereof each loop will be held and supported in position during the formation of succeeding loops and the spreading of the cluster. It has been found in practice that unless the loops are thus supported beyond the edge of the fabric great difficulty will be experienced in properly gaging the lengths of the loops and preventing the drawing of'the thread during the formation of succeeding loops, and, moreover, unless supported and held taut the loops are liable to become entangled with the thread on the crochet-hook. It is for the purpose of remedying these and other defects'that I employ a finger S or equivalent device standing beyond and substantially parallel with the fabric and draw and form the loops of the cluster around said finger so that each loop will be held under tension with the interlooped or connected ends of the loops projected beyond the edge of the fabric. By thus supporting the loops during the drawing, forming, and connecting operations the size or length of each loop in a cluster can be accurately determined, and the drawing of the thread from one loop during the formation of another is prevented. Moreover, each cluster of loops is support-ed along its outer edge during the spreading operation, the finger being retracted or the fabric advanced when the cluster is completed, and the thread carried to the next point of insertion, thereby causing the loops to be spread apart more or less at their outer ends in the connectingchain or themargin of the cluster.

When, as is preferred, the fabric is advanced after the completion of a cluster, the finger S is preferably tapered or contracted more or less in the direction of the feed movement, to relieve the tension on the loops of the finished cluster and permit them to slide freely on the finger as the fabric is advanced and the cluster drawn from off the finger.

Having thus described my invention, what claim as new is- 1. The hereinbefore-described improvement in the art of forming a finish upon fabrics, which consists in forming a cluster of loops extending beyond the edge of the. fabric by passing the thread through the fabric, (a number of times at substantially the same place,) drawinga series of loops of the thread from opposite sides of the fabric beyond the edge thereof and around a finger, holding said loops under tension upon said finger and connecting the outer ends of said loops in a flexible chain, and then passing the thread through the fabric at another point and repeating the loop-forming operation one or more times, as set forth.

2. As an improvement in the art of forming a finish or border upon fabrics, the hereinbefore described mode of forming and spreading clusters of loops, the same consisting in carrying the thread through the fabric and drawing loops therefrom above and below the fabric and on opposite sides of a finger located in proximity to the edge of the fabric, connecting the loops together beyond the edge of said finger while held under tension thereon, repeating the operation a number of times by passing the thread through the fabric at substantially the same point, thereby forming a connected cluster around and upon the finger, and then feeding the fabric, passing the thread through the latter at another point, drawing loops therefrom, and connecting said loopsto the preceding cluster While supported upon the finger.

3. The hereinbeforedescribed improve ment in the art of forming a finish upon fabrics, the same consisting in. passing the thread through the fabric and drawing loops therefrom on opposite sides of and beyond the edge of the fabric and connecting said loops, supporting the connected loops beyond the edge of the fabric, passing the thread again through the fabric at substantially the same point and forming and supporting the loops as before, and subsequently passing the thread through the fabric at another point and repeating the loop-forming operation.

f. The hereinbefore:described improvement in the art of forming a finish upon fabrics, the same consisting in forming a cluster of loops radiating from substantially the same point, projecting beyond the edge of the fabric, and connected together at their outer ends by carrying the thread through the fabric, drawing loops therefrom on opposite sides and beyond the edge of the fabric, connecting said loops, holding said connected loops under tension, carrying the thread again through the fabric at substantially the same point, and repeating the loop forming and connecting operations While the preceding loops are still under tension, and then, When a cluster has been completed, advancing the fabric and passing the thread again therethrough at another point, as set forth.

JOSEPH M. MERROW. Witnesses:

FRANK H. ALLEN, ALLEN TENNY.

ITO 

